Misguided Priorities Neglecting Education and Health for Policing

GOOD Speech by Brett Herron,GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament 03 April 2025 *Note to editor: This speech was delivered by GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament Brett Herron during today’s debate on the Western Cape Budget Today, we stand at a critical juncture. The 2025 Western Cape Budget […]

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Speech by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament:

This speech was delivered by GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament Brett Herron during today’s debate on the Western Cape Budget.

Today, we stand at a critical juncture. The 2025 Western Cape Budget presents a vision for economic growth, infrastructure development, and social progress. However, a closer look reveals that this budget prioritizes short-term optics over the long-term needs of our people.

Despite allocating R101 billion to education over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), our schools are struggling under the weight of increasing enrolment, overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of teachers. To make matters worse, the Western Cape Government has opted not to spend the full R31.3 billion equitable share allocated to education, deliberately underfunding the education sector by R2 billion.

The additional R549 million allocated for learner growth over the next three years is simply inadequate. True investment in the future demands proper infrastructure, well-paid teachers, and expanded educational support, all of which are insufficiently addressed in this budget.

Meanwhile, the province has chosen to pour nearly R4 billion into safety programs, including R1.3 billion for the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) and other policing initiatives over the MTEF. Additionally, the safety sector has received almost double its equitable share this year, jumping from R347 million to R684 million, funds that could have bolstered education.

Yet, despite these massive expenditures, crime and gang violence remain rampant. More police and reactive measures are not enough; addressing the root causes of crime, poverty, inequality, and lack of economic opportunities, is essential.

On the health front, the Department of Health faces a R405 million shortfall following the withdrawal of USAID and PEPFAR funding for HIV and TB programs. Despite an overall allocation of R100 billion over the MTEF, frontline services remain overstretched, and critical programs are at risk. The province should have anticipated this funding gap and taken proactive steps to secure alternative revenue streams to protect public health.

Equally concerning is the government’s increasing reliance on private funding to finance public infrastructure, with plans for a R200 billion “pipeline of bankable projects” by 2030.

Private investors expect returns, which could lead to creeping privatization, user fees for essential services, and reduced public accountability. The details of these agreements remain opaque, raising concerns about long-term financial risks. If these projects fail, taxpayers will ultimately bear the burden.

This budget underfunds education, overspends on ineffective policing, allows a healthcare crisis to deepen, and invites private interests into public infrastructure without transparency.

The people of the Western Cape deserve leadership that prioritizes their needs, not one that shifts responsibility to the private sector while neglecting systemic challenges. We need bold leadership, not just big numbers. We must demand a budget that truly invests in education, community-driven safety initiatives, and a well-funded public healthcare system. Only then can we build a just and sustainable future for all.

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